Habitat’s Carrot and Chamomile Soup with Spiced Granola Croutons

This weekend, kick-start a spring of clean, green eating with a Healthy Home Cooking Class at the Fairmont Hotel.

Photo courtesy of Habitat
 

What are you doing this weekend? Oh, you know. Same old. Going to the Fairmont. To learn how to cook.

I wish that’s what “same old” means. But at least for this weekend, you can have the pleasure of saying that! This Saturday, chefs at Habitat, the restaurant at the Fairmont Hotel are going to hold a Healthy Home Cooking Class. The cooking series at Habitat takes place once a month and this is my favorite class.

If you’ve ever dined at Habitat, you know the best seats in the house are the ones right by the beautiful open kitchen. Watching the chefs cook in such a great space is like watching a choreographed performance. Well, I suppose in a way, that is what it is. Because the dishes that come out of the kitchen can only be the product of a talented troupe.

During the classes, you will be sitting at the bar of the open kitchen learning from the Habitat chefs for two solid hours. What better way to start the season? The dishes you’ll learn are light and healthy. None of them are complicated. All of them are inventive. For example, I had the pleasure of tasting this Chilled Carrot & Chamomile Soup with Spiced Granola Croutons on my last visit. It was so refreshing – and the best part is, it's made in a blender! And how many times do you get to put granola on top of soup? The combination is perfect.

Taste the soup and many other dishes this Saturday at Habitat!

  Chilled Carrot & Chamomile Soup

Ingredients

• 10 carrots, peeled and diced
• 2 bags chamomile tea
• 1 cup carrot juice
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 1/4 cup almonds
• 1/4 cup oatmeal
• 1/8 cup salt
• 1/8 cup sugar

Directions

1. Place the tea bags in a pot of boiling water and cook the carrots in the tea water until tender.
2. Blend cooked carrots with the carrot juice.
3. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Lightly toast the almonds and oatmeal in a sauté pan.
5. Add sugar and salt and cook until a caramel forms.
6. Transfer to a sheet pan and allow to cool. Sprinkle on top of chilled soup.

Healthy Home Cooking : Light and healthy cooking made easy

April 6, 2013
1:00-3:00 p.m.

Cost is $65 per person per class and includes all instruction, materials, an apron and lunch following the class. Space is limited. For reservations, call (412) 773-8848.